Related

Dr. Frank James is an American — his citizenship is significant to this story — and the health officer for Washington state’s San Juan County. He is also a professor of public health at the University of Washington.

James is a member of Whatcom Docs, a group of physicians that formed two years ago when they learned of a proposal to ship up to 48 million tons of Wyoming coal through Bellingham. It would mean 50 kilometres of coal train running along the shores of Puget Sound per day.

From an initial core of about 140 interested physicians, Whatcom Docs has since grown to 215 members. Initially, the group maintained a neutral position, and was neither for nor against the proposal. Their concerns were health-related, not political, and they wanted to know what health hazards, if any, were associated with shipping coal.

A core of about a dozen members began canvassing the literature on health impacts of coal export. In all, they read over 400 scientific papers.

Overwhelmingly, James said, the papers concluded there were health problems associated with shipping coal.

That preponderance of evidence led the group to write a position paper calling for governments to conduct not just an environmental-impact statement — which would look at the overall environmental impact to the county — but a health impact assessment, which would look at specific health impacts particularly among those living closest to the route. Would cancer rates be affected by proximity to coal shipments? What cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects would the passing trains have on those who lived near the route? What neurological effects would the constant noise and vibration of passing trains produce?

Eventually, the influence of Whatcom Docs persuaded the three levels of governments involved in looking at the proposal to incorporate an independent health impact assessment into the overall consideration process.

And what an exhaustive process that has been. The federal, state and county governments have all had a hand in it. In communities affected by the coal shipments, members of the public were invited to make their views known at well-publicized local hearings or to post their views online. In all, about 9,000 people attended the public hearings, 30,000 offered written submissions and 120,000 people wrote comments online. The aim of the process was to determine exactly what the public wanted the scope of any assessment to be. It would be members of the public in tandem with the three governments that would set the agenda.

The result: The environmental assessment will conduct an exhaustive study of, among other things, the health effects of coal shipments along the entire route. It will take about two years to complete.

Let’s compare that to what is happening here.

Before a growing public outcry to proposed coal shipments through North Vancouver and Surrey made it go into emergency public relations mode, Port Metro Vancouver was doing what it always did: Whatever it wanted.

For the expansion of coal shipments through Neptune Terminal, Port Metro Vancouver did an “in-house” environmental assessment.

I guess the in-house assessment came to the conclusion that, environmentally, the expansion was just fine, because Port Metro Vancouver okayed it.

Did any other level of government have a say in it? No. Were there any independent hearings where members of the public could air their concerns? No. Were there any public comments submitted to Port Metro Vancouver about the proposal? Yes, but Port Metro Vancouver didn’t make them public.

Then came the proposed expansion of coal shipments through Fraser Surrey Docks. Fraser Surrey Docks assured the public it did its own in-house environmental assessment, but the public’s and local governments’ concern about the proposal was so great that Port Metro Vancouver was forced to appoint an “independent” third party to conduct a review of that assessment, which would take about a month to do.

That independent third party was SNC-Lavalin.

As Jeff Scott, president and CEO of Fraser Surrey Docks wrote in a letter to The Sun, SNC-Lavalin has been involved in the Canada Line, BC Hydro projects, Vancouver International Airport “and many other projects essential to B.C.’s economy.” Read into that what you will.

But back to Dr. Frank James.

For the last two months, James has been coming to B.C. communities to talk about what he considers the very real dangers of coal transport.

He has been doing this, he said, because if public sentiment thwarts plans to ship coal through Washington state, the industry will look for other outlets — namely B.C. and Mexico. He felt a responsibility to come here, he said, because he didn’t want to see a neighbour inflicted with the health problems Washingtonians may have avoided.

His opinion of the assessment process in B.C. since he’s been here?

“I was shocked at how little public input was allowed. You guys (the public) have no rights ... In Washington state, our port commissioners are publicly elected, and if we don’t like what they’re doing, we can vote them out.

“I thought of Canada as a much more progressive country than the U.S.,” the American said, “but I was shocked to see what was happening up here.”

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Saskatoon loves its Christmas lights. The Enchanted Forest draws thousands of vehicles each week. The late Bob Hinitt worked for months building his light display, which drew thousands of cars each year to Wiggins Avenue. And Scott Lambie on Clinkskill Drive has continued the tradition with more than 70,000 dancing lights (up from 50,000 last […]

When it comes to gift giving, they say it’s the thought that counts. But many are wondering if Mayor Drew Dilkens was thinking at all when he gave Olympic superstar Michael Phelps — whose battles with booze are well known — a big bottle of Canadian Club whisky.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.